Date: 07 March 07
Author: Rachel Mimiec
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Launch the website
The aim of this project was to creatively engage with a group of people to find out their thoughts and feelings about the Scottish Parliament. I proposed to work with the cleaning staff of the parliament, working beside them, cleaning, discussing and photographing the building.
The cleaners are vital members of the Scottish Parliament community and have an intimate knowledge of every area of the building. They have a certain awareness of design features, use of materials, light and space and are privileged to have moments when they alone are present. They are the carers for the space and it was an honour to work with them and experience a unique exploration of a building from a very different perspective. As part of the creative process the cleaners participated in a tour and discussion about the building, given by John Gibbons, and also mapping workshops, which have been brought together and distilled into this new interactive site by Skratch Design.
This website is a portrait of a building alongside its carers, looking at the journeys they make and the paths they tread daily. It is a celebration of a group of people who often seem invisible, some who love the building, others who struggle with its appearance and its financial history, but ultimately all who take pride in the service they provide.
The following pages illustrate the cleaning routes of the staff and were inspired by drawings made by each individual who took part in the project. Participants in the project are also pictured in their favourite part of the parliament.
